A new booklet jointly published by NIOSH and the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) describes examples of effective approaches to improving worker safety around the world, particularly in developing nations. The publication discusses efforts to eliminate silicosis in Brazil and Chile; the Asian Asbestos Initiative, an international collaboration that seeks to prevent and eliminate asbestos-related illnesses; an international e-learning project developed to provide Web-based training for work-related medicine; and efforts focused on high-risk industries and vulnerable worker groups, including a project to reduce the harmful effects of pesticides among Ugandan farmers and methods to reduce or eliminate mercury exposures in small-scale gold mining in the Philippines. 

Many of the training materials and practice tools developed as part of these global efforts are available for use in the "Geolibrary," a global environmental and occupational health e-library.

The projects highlighted in the publication were led by members of the Global Network of World Health Organization Collaborating Centers for Occupational Health, which comprises 55 national institutes and university departments and three non-governmental organizations: the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH), the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA), and the International Ergonomics Association (IEA).

The booklet is available via NIOSH’s website.